SLED charges former Clarendon County Sheriff's Deputy with multiple offenses involving a minor
Posted
by Katherine Hutchinson
From South Carolina Law Enforcement Division:
On Thursday, agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) arrested former Clarendon County deputy Antonio Pearson, 36, of Sumter, S.C. for:
Misconduct in Office
Disseminating Obscene Material to a person under the age of 18
Criminal Sexual Conduct with a minor under the age of 16, 2nd Degree
Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 1st Degree
The SLED investigation was requested by Clarendon County Sheriff Tim Baxley. Pearson was booked at the Clarendon County Detention Center. The case will be prosecuted by the 3rd Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
SLED also released several warrants which contained the following information on each charge:
Misconduct in Office
Between November 2019 and February 2020, Pearson, while within the county of Clarendon, engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor.
Dissiminating obscene material to a person under the age of 18
On October 29, 2020, Pearson knowingly sent an explicit picture to the juvenile victim.
Criminal Sexual conduct with a minor victim under the age of 16
Between November 2019 and February 2020, Pearson engaged in sexual battery with the juvenile victim, who was fifteen years of age.
Sexual Exploitation of a minor
Between November 2019 and February 2020, Pearson encouraged the juvenile victim to send explicit photographs.
Pearson was released the same day, August 18, 2022 on a $95,000 surety bond.
